Donate to The Open University

Your support can open up life-changing education and research for all. Please click ‘donate now’ to go to our secure donation page. You’ll make a real difference to opening up the future of learning. Thank you.

A helping paw

Humans and dogs have worked in partnership for generations. Today, people with disabilities are forming incredible bonds with talented canines, enabling them to live independently. Yet, even for an experienced assistance dog, operating switches and handles designed for human hands is like trying to turn on a light switch wearing boxing gloves.

That’s why our Animal-Computer Interaction (ACI) team, led by Dr Clara Mancini, is developing a toolkit of buttons and switches, designed for paws and noses instead of fingers; for canine rather than human eyes. And because it’s portable, dogs will be able to use it at home and in the workplace.

With your support, we can give talented paws a longer, happier working life, by making everyday tasks for extraordinary dogs easier. By enabling dogs and humans to stay together longer, people with disabilities gain more confidence to live independent lives.

Disability support dogs empower people like Corinna to do amazing things

Changing lives through education and more

Our research and education projects bring immeasurable benefits to so many lives, and we rely on the generosity of our donors for all of them. We’re already making a difference worldwide – but we have the potential to do even more. Each of our projects falls into one of four strands; opening up minds, opportunities, thinking and lives.

Donate to The Open University

Your support can open up life-changing education and research for all. Please click ‘donate now’ to go to our secure donation page. You’ll make a real difference to opening up the future of learning. Thank you.